Epeolatry Book Review: Beyond the Deep by Carson Fredriksen
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Title: Beyond the Deep
Author: Carson Fredriksen
Genre: Horror (Creature Feature)
Publisher: Baynam Books Press
Publication date: 25th January, 2025
Synopsis: In 1991, shortly after stopping at the Sammy’s Oasis resort, eight-year-old Mike Burgess witnesses the deep end of the swimming pool disappear and a creature emerge from its depths. Although he is able to escape with his life, his older brother Davey isn’t so lucky.
Years later, a new recreation center is built on the land that once housed Sammy’s Oasis. Mike tries to think that the creature is dead and buried. But after reading about several disappearances in the area, Mike realizes that the creature has awoken from its slumber and is seeking fresh victims. With the help of the complex’s receptionist, Ivy, Mike must stop the creature once and for all and uncover why the assistant manager, Lester Snidely, is so protective of the pool.
Beyond The Deep, by Carson Fredriksen is reminiscent of a 70s creature feature film. It’s set in a small town in Alberta, Canada. This immediately tickled my fancy, as I’m a sucker for small-town horror. But alas, I was not permitted to amble my flatlander feet through it. Ninety percent of the story takes place in and around the swimming pool of Sammy’s Oasis (later called The Off-Road Recreation Center). While it makes sense for much of the action to occur around the swimming pool of Sammy’s Oasis, I believe the narrative would have been enriched by a broader peripheral view.
You see, I live in Bangkok, and the air pollution here is terrible. I would have enjoyed the fresh mountain air with the main characters, Mike and Ivy, as they searched for answers. Maybe Fredriksen could have included more townies. Perhaps one of them knew some kind of legend about the creature. Who doesn’t like the creepy old hermit with cataracts and yellow teeth spinning foreboding cautionary tales?
That being said, Fredriksen is, in my opinion, a talented writer. I thoroughly enjoyed how well each paragraph was crafted. It flowed so smoothly that I will definitely read more by this author, simply because I appreciate the art of well-constructed writing. Were he my student, I would have given him an A. However, I must rate this tale of terror with only three out of ravens.
The reason I can’t give more is because there are certain guidelines that govern each genre. Any artist, author, or musician takes a risk when trying something new. I take my hat off to Fredriksen for coming up with something different, but it was not my cup of tea. The creature is depicted in a way that made it hard for me to understand how it moves. On top of that, there were moments when the desired effect that the author attempted to create fell flat because of word choice, as well as inconsistencies.
Finally, Mike’s approach and reaction to the situation was closer to Middle-Grade or YA characters. Children, I am led to believe, make good victims and heroes because nobody believes them; their reactions are boisterous and entertaining, and they can triumph haphazardly. A 40-year-old man running around trying to convince people of the thing in the pool just doesn’t work as well.
All in all, if you like classical-style creature features, I do recommend this book. I imagine it’s nice to read on a rainy day when you don’t have something more riveting on your shelf.
/5
Available from Amazon.
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Luc Dantes is a high school English teacher by day and aspiring author by night. Their writing style is shaped by their experience living with ADD, as well as their identity as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Luc finds comfort in the horror genre, seeing it as a place to explore darker themes in a safe environment. Their work has been featured in Ghostwatch Zine’s Winter’s Warning quarterly issue in 2025, and they are set to be published in “Twisted Horrors,” a queer anthology curated by River Gardner in 2025.
As an avid reader, Luc has consistently ranked among Goodreads’ top users, placing in the top 25% of readers in 2023 and advancing to the top 10% of readers and top 1% of reviewers in 2024. Their literary interests span a wide range of genres, with a particular passion for horror, fantasy, and autobiographies.
As a writer, Luc aims to bring an honest, relatable perspective to readers through their work. Their experience as both a prolific reader and reviewer informs their writing, allowing them to craft stories that resonate with diverse audiences. Above all, Luc’s greatest passions are their loving spouse and children, who continue to inspire and support their literary journey.
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